Why the banning of the biff is serious business

 

Now we have had huge debate for the past few weeks about a banning of the “biff” in State of Origin. We've had NRL players, fans and legends of the code come out and say the game has gone soft, but all of them have a short sighted view, and simply do not understand the bigger picture and the changing climate in which the game now operates.

We must remember that the NRL is no longer just a sport, but a business, and a billion dollar business at that.

As a result the game has corporate interests it must protect and it must counter a push from the AFL, which has dramatically cleaned up it’s code in recent years.

In junior participation numbers, rugby league is behind both AFL and Football, and perhaps harshly continues to be levied with the “dangerous” tag.

The debate surrounding the removal of the shoulder charge and the “biff” is similar to when the AFL outlawed the “shirtfront” or sling tackle. People said it was a softening of the game, but the line was drawn. If you made contact with the head, you paid the price. Suspensions of 6, 8, 10 weeks were handed down, and the message was quickly received loud and clear.

Think of the last time you saw a punch thrown in the AFL. Barry Hall on Brent Staker, probably comes to mind, maybe even Matt Scarlett on Hayden Ballantyne, if you get technical. But both offenders were dealt with by the tribunal and spent weeks on the sidelines.

Paul Gallen unleashes a barrage of punches, gets suspended for a week, and complains.

The NRL needed to show that his actions are not acceptable and if you step out of line, a punishment must be served.

The NRL is a billion dollar industry now. It no longer has a single obligation to players and fans, but it now must consider government and corporate interests.

Sponsors such as Holden and Telstra pay millions of dollars to be associated with the game, and through this they not only sign up for the good but the bad. By their association any hits to the NRL’s brand, directly affect them.

With every image of Origin players splashed across the media exchanging punches, comes a Holden , VB, GIO, or XXXX State of Origin logo on each player’s jersey, a privilege that the company has paid millions to own.

People were furious on talkback radio over the severity of the punishment levied at New South Wales forward James Tamou.

People said the $20,000 fine was too severe and that he should be treated like a regular citizen and remain innocent until proven guilty.

But Tamou is not a “regular citizen”. He is a player on around $400,000-$500,000 a season. $20,000 is a small price to pay, considering he was four times over the legal limit, not to mention driving unlicensed, a crime in which he is a repeat offender.

It has been reported that Tamou was driving a sponsored vehicle at the time of his arrest, given to him by the Cowboys major sponsor, Toyota.

What some people do not consider is the fact that every sponsor of the Cowboys would have clauses written into their contracts that they can walk away if they feel the integrity of their brand has been blemished by the action of the club or players.

A major sponsor of an NRL side could be paying between $500,000-$1 million per season and if that sponsor chooses to walk away as a result of an incident like Tamou, then the club’s financial security is placed in jeopardy.

$20,000 is a fair punishment in my eyes.

You have to remember that there are several clubs in the NRL without a major sponsor, and long gone are the days when leagues clubs were the main source of funds.

The most important thing to remember in all of this is who exactly pays the bills – sponsors.

The $500,000 plus that a major sponsor pays per season is what goes towards paying the salary of players like Tamou.

Some clubs in the NRL have an inability to spend the full extent of their salary cap due to a lack of revenue, through sponsorship shortfall. It is imperative that clubs not only hold their sponsors but attract more lucrative deals year upon year.

This is why clubs are spending more and more time in the community, increasing the value of their brand. It is no longer all about getting the two points on the weekend. Good deeds on the field on Sunday will no longer paper over the bad deeds in Monday’s paper.

Sponsors are paying big dollars and don’t want their product being portrayed in the wrong light.

A clean image sells better and revenue doesn’t simply grow on trees.

Scandal affects the NRL in the same way it affects the share price of major organisations around the world. As a result the value falls and potential investors shy away.

Look at Cricket Australia and Swimming Australia in recent times. For so long, blue chip stocks in the Australian sporting climate, they now both seemingly have fallen well down the pecking order in the sponsorship stakes.

Sure, Cricket Australia just signed a significant TV deal, but there is substantial discontent around the national side at the moment and the baggy green brand has certainly seen better days.

As sport becomes more corporate, it must be run like the billion dollar business that it is.

This is why a banker such as NRL boss David Smith now sits in the top job.

It’s no longer all about the Rugby League, but corporate image, dollars and most importantly sense.

Adam Santarossa

Follow Adam on Twitter at @adamsantarossa

How Holger gets the Socceroos out of the hole

Holger Osieck goes into Tuesday night’s crunch World Cup qualifier against Japan, needing a result, not only for the Socceroos ailing World Cup campaign, but with talk around in the press this week that his future may hang in the balance, it will be an important 90 minutes in Saitama.

Holger had had his critics, but he is not helped largely by the players at his disposal. The Socceroos are an ageing list that was one of the oldest at the last World Cup. Four years on and many of those names from 2010 remain, coupled with a younger generation whose development has been hindered by poor career moves, which have stalled their development.

Holger goes into the three biggest games of his tenure plagued with problems; let’s get into some of them.

Formation

Whilst Pim Verbeek wasn’t exactly popular with everyone in his time as Socceroos manager, he is fastly gaining more and more respect, given how easily in retrospect the Socceroos qualified for the last World Cup.

Whilst the style of football he played was well known for being largely unattractive, it did manage results.

It wasn’t the most attacking style and didn’t conjure tons of goals, but his “anchor” system ensured the Socceroos not only held their shape but were hard to break down.

Verbeek’s use of two midfield screeners was effective, and I would like to see Holger adopt the same approach, especially if he is going to go in with a central pairing of Lucas Neill and Sasa Ognenovski.

The Socceroos have had a tendency to be caught on the break in this campaign due to a lack of pace in our back four and the adoption of this formation will provide more cover for this. We have to remember we are playing tournament football and it is all about results at this point.  

The use of Brett Holman -

The Socceroos can no longer afford to continue playing Brett Holman out of position. Holman is generally being used as a wide player, at times on the left, given the preference to play Tim Cahill in his more natural No.10 role. Sure Cahill is the first name on the Socceroo team sheet but I feel Holman’s performances in recent times should see him claim that position. Cahill will still have a role to play, and that is leading the line.

The Socceroos are currently bereft of a quality striker and although Alex Brosque and Archie Thompson have been used by Oseick as a foil for Cahill, I feel a Cahill-Holman pairing could work.

There is no one else in the Socceroo line-up that can guarantee goals like Cahill and he will make it hard on any defence playing on the last man. I don’t feel the Socceroos will lose any of his potency in making the shift, and if anything the move may even prove to prolong his career, as Holman becomes the terrier chasing down everything, when playing in between the lines.

We all know Cahill’s aerial prowess and he has the ability to hold the ball up well. The move is more designed though to accommodate both better in the same team. It is worthless playing Holman wide as he is simply not a natural wide player and has a tendency to drift centrally, which causes the side to lose its shape.

There is no question both need to be in the side, but Holman is not the answer out wide. I would much prefer Holger turn to Tommy Oar or Matt McKay, who can cause damage in wide areas.

The Age Old Question –

Holger has faced criticism in recent weeks for turning to the older players for the final three matches of this campaign.

But this is certainly no time for risks and of course he is going to go with what’s proven.

Whilst I have long been a critic of Lucas Neill and his lack of speed, no one has really stood up and done the job in his absence and his partnership with Sasa Ognenovski has been relatively solid.

 I would be pushing for the inclusion of Mark Milligan, who always seems to lift when pulling on the Socceroo jersey, and can be deployed in either a holding midfield or further defensive role.

Holger’s job security relies on results and this is not the time to roll the dice. Sure I would have loved to have seen more youth involved in the last four years, but you get the sense that Holger just doesn’t think the younger players are up to it.

You have to agree that the next generation aren’t exactly doing themselves any favours. Most have made silly career moves which have hindered their development as they make moves to Europe that has seen them confined to the reserves team or the bench. Instead of playing each week in the A-League, many have decided to chase the riches on offer in Europe, which frankly across the board have not transpired.

Matthew Leckie and Mustafa Amini are two examples, who were in the frame for selection before their moves overseas, only for both to slip off the radar in recent times. James Holland is another who has slipped well back following years wasted in the reserves in the Netherlands, but is starting to get his act together in recent times playing regularly in Austria, where his side won the league.

 Dario Vidosic is another who showed so much promise, and finds himself back in the A-League, whilst names like Matthew Spiranovic, Nathan Burns, Nikita Rukavysta, and others have simply failed to kick on.

Tommy Oar, Tom Rogic and Robbie Kruse are perhaps the exception, but even Rogic has been a bit part player since moving to Celtic, which may prevent Holger from using him here.  I expect him to feature more regularly next season.

Players on the pine –

Holger Osieck looks at his squad and finds many players who are not playing regularly for their clubs.

Brett Holman has been seeing very limited game time at Aston Villa, whilst Captain Lucas Neill doesn’t have a club. Some of the A-League players haven’t played a competitive game for months and many others are bit part players at best.  

Harry Kewell –

One thing Holger has done right in recent weeks is not include Harry Kewell in the squad for these qualifiers. If Harry believes three games in the space of twelve months gives him any hope of playing some part in these qualifiers then he is sadly mistaken. Gone are the days when Kewell’s name found its way into the side simply on reputation.

Kewell has been on a steady decline since his move to Galatasaray and although he showed glimpses in his time in the A-League with Melbourne Victory, his form was underwhelming.

Whilst admirably Kewell had to make the move back to England to care for his wife’s mother, I find it hard to believe that he was unable to secure a club for the past twelve months. Now sure, Kewell may not quite have the ability to go with the best in the English Premier League anymore, but I feel he would have proven a handy signing for a club in the English Championship or League One.

Edgar Davids is still trotting around in League Two with Barnet, so I’m confident he could have found a place at some club, however reports of Kewell not being able to agree on wage demands and not wanting to drop down to the English Championship, prove either Kewell has been seriously misadvised or his ego is again getting in the way.

If Kewell really did want to play a part in the next World Cup then he would have found a way. Spending 12 months out of the game isn’t exactly going to help your fitness, sharpness or attractiveness at transfer time now is it.

Whilst Kewell seems to have come around and decided to join the Melbourne Heart for next A-League season, at minimal wage, you have to ask the question what was stopping Kewell from making a similar move at the back end of last season, like Lucas Neill.

I’m not prepared to say Kewell has no place in the Socceroos squad, all I’m saying is he must earn it. If he can recapture the form he showed at the last Asian Cup, then he should be considered, but until then he needs to prove to everyone he is worthy.

 Japan

Japan is one of the most improved sides in world football and I have them as genuine dark horses for the World Cup. Now, a long shot at lifting the trophy, they will certainly be in the mix come quarter finals stage for mine. They are the stand out team in Asia at the moment and have had some big wins over some of the World best in the last twelve months.

Whilst Australia are looking for three points in Saitama, I would happily take one, which sets the Socceroos up for two must win games against Jordan and Iraq in Australia, and really if you cannot beat either then you do not deserve to go to the World Cup.

SANTAROSSA’s SOCCEROOS (if all available) – Schwarzer, Wilshere, Neill, Sasa, McKay, Oar, Valeri, Jedinak, Kruse, Holman, Cahill

ADAM SANTAROSSA

Follow Adam on Twitter - @adamsantarossa